Historic Wigmore Castle in Herefordshire is now on the market for £450,000 – less than a house in London – after failing to find a buyer since it went up for sale six months ago.
Property hunters now have the chance to own a 1,000-year-old castle for less than the price of a house in London after the asking price of £500,000 was reduced by £50,000.
Historic Wigmore Castle in Herefordshire is now on the market for £450,000 after failing to find a buyer since it went up for sale six months ago. Built 956 years ago, the fort sits on a vast 29.84 acres and has been called one of Britain’s ‘most remarkable archaeological sites’ by English Heritage.
As well as the Grade I-listed castle itself, buyers will also receive extensive grounds including a moat, woodland and jousting grounds. Planning consent will also be granted to convert a barn workshop on the site into a two-bedroom dwelling, accessed via a private driveway.
However, the sale comes with the problem that the site must remain open to the public as English Heritage maintains the right of way for the road to the castle. By law, any property under the protection of the Secretary of State must be open to the public and public access to the premises must be allowed.
But English Heritage says anyone who buys the site will still be investing in something special. Founded in 1067 by William Osbern, Earl of Hereford and close aide to William the Conqueror, the castle has a rich history, having hosted several kings and queens.
It is set in the rolling Herefordshire countryside and contains the remains of several towers and significant walls. Although much of the castle grounds are overgrown with grass, the grounds are home to a variety of rare plants and wildlife.
A spokesperson for the Sunderland estate agency said: “This is a unique and unique opportunity to acquire the historic Grade I listed Wigmore Castle and grounds with planning consent to convert the existing workshop into a two-bedroom residence. Castles have a rich history and were major architectural monuments.For over 500 years, they were centers of power where several kings and queens ruled.
“The proposed residence is private yet situated on an elevated position with stunning views of the surrounding countryside, and is in an easily accessible location on the edge of the rural village of Wigmore. It is a picturesque village with the perfect combination of beauty and a thriving local community.”
Wigmore Castle was once home to the turbulent Mortimer family, who defended it from around 1075 until 1425, when it passed into the royal family. There is also a connection to the Wars of the Roses. This is because Richard, Duke of York and his Plantagenets inherited this war, he returned to Wigmore in 1455 to gather a large army for the battle of St. Albans against Henry VI’s forces.
Richard Plantagenet’s son, who carried on Rose’s cause, defeated Owen Tudor at the Battle of Mortimer’s Cross and was crowned King Edward IV. This meant that Wigmore Castle became a royal property. The Crown remained in possession until 1601, when Queen Elizabeth I sold it to her Lord Thomas Harley.
However, Sir Thomas’s son was an ardent supporter of Oliver Cromwell, and during the Civil War his wife ordered Parliamentary forces to demolish the walls to prevent their use by Royalist forces. The castle has since fallen into ruin, but in order to protect the surrounding natural environment it was preserved by English Heritage in the 1990s.